Jar Lid Hook

ABSTRACT

An inexpensive device is described for use on jars, such as food jars, that have a threaded rim on which the lid is rotated to open or close the jar. This new device consists of a hook or similar part functioning as a hook, attached to the outside of the jar which provides a place to suspend the jar&#39;s lid when the jar is in use. The hook or similar part may be stuck to the side or neck area of the jar, or unfolded from the label to project outward, or have some other embodiment, and holds the lid by the jar when the lid is not screwed onto the top of the jar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing Approaches to Keeping Lids with their Jars Using Hooks

This invention improves upon the state of the art represented by other inventions and practices that address controlling the relationship between jars and their lids. The device most closely related to the present invention is described by patent GB 418689A, Improvements in or relating to detachable lids of containers. This patent describes a hook attached to the underside of the lid, which may be used to hang the lid from the edge of the jar. This is a less desirable method than the one described herein because anything attached to the underside of the lid introduces hard to reach crevices and surfaces which are therefore harder to coat, treat, keep clean, and so on, than a smooth lid underside. It is better to attach the hook somewhere other than the underside of the lid, like the improvement described in this document. Additionally, patent GB 418689A has a hook that is attached to the lid by means of a screw that goes through the lid. This is a less desirable method than attaching a hook using another method or to another location because the screw itself introduces crevices that are harder to coat, treat, keep clean, and so on than a smooth lid underside. Furthermore, the screw is attached through a hole in the lid which introduces the potential for vacuum leaks, which is another disadvantage of that method. Finally, when the lid is suspended on the rim of the jar the lid tends to partially obstruct access to the open top of the jar, a further disadvantage of that method.

Another approach, commonly used, is to tether the lid to a collar around the neck of the jar. This method may be found, for example, with some plastic lids of water bottles which have a plastic tether, and glass lids of pantry storage jars which have a hinged metal tether. However, this method has not been found to be a very attractive option for vacuum packed jars with metal lids.

The U.S. Pat. No. 2,833,440A, Reversible hopper lid for agricultural implements, describes improvements in lids, but refers to lids of storage bins and does not address the function of the present invention nor does it describe the structure of the present invention. As with the earlier mentioned patent GB 418689A, Improvements in or relating to detachable lids of containers, the hook is attached to the lid, and besides an agricultural hopper is not a jar with a threaded rim.

The U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,238B2, Storage bin and lid assembly, describes improvements in lids, but refers to lids of storage bins rather than jars, and does not address the function of the present invention nor does it describe the structure of the present invention.

Other inventions concern improvements in attaching lids to jars for closing the jar, which is not the concern of the invention described herein, in which the improvement is about when the jar is open. Examples of these other inventions are:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 1,658,521 (and GB 228412A)—Improvements in or         relating to closure for jars, bottles and similar receptacles.         This invention is about securing lids to jars with a clamping         system involving hook(s). Despite the use of “hook-like tabs,”         it is not relevant to the invention described herein because the         hooks are used to help secure the lid to the jar while the jar         is closed, which is a different purpose.     -   US 706771 (and GB 190217064)—Jar-closure. This patent uses a         flange around the neck of the jar to help secure a lid to a jar.         Hooks grip the flange, but the hooks are used for a different         purpose than the hooks in the new invention describe herein, and         in fact are attached to the lid and not to the jar, in contrast         to the present invention.     -   GB 321917—Improvements in or relating to closures for jars,         bottles and similar receptacles. This patent uses a hook to help         secure the lid onto the jar. Despite hook use, it is not         relevant to the inventions described herein because it is not         for use with jars that have screw-on lids and because the hook         is used for a different purpose.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This device consists of a hook attached to the outside of a jar, inexpensively offering the function of providing a place to suspend the jar's lid when the jar is in use, thereby keeping the lid conveniently with the jar. It is intended for jars, such as food jars, that have a threaded rim on which the lid is rotated to open or close the jar. This is useful because when there is no place to so store the lid when the lid has been removed from the top of the jar, it can easily get lost, take time to find later, be contaminated while laying on a surface, be laid on top of the jar without being secured potentially leading someone to pick the jar up by the lid and have the jar fall off and break or spill its contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments are shown for purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a jar with a hook attached using adhesive.

FIG. 2 shows the lid suspended from the hook of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a jar with a hook attached as a fold-out tab of the jar's label.

FIG. 4 shows the lid suspended from the hook of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device for improving jars, such as food jars, by providing a way to keep the lid with the jar even when the jar is open. More particularly, the invention relates to such a hook or hook-like device which is inexpensive, attached to the jar, and will hold the lid while the jar is open. The jar lid hook is a useful way to add value to ordinary food jars with lids that may be unscrewed and thus detached from the jar, as is commonly the case for ordinary food jars. Because they are completely detached from the jar when removed, there are tendencies for them to cause several inconveniences which it is desirable to mitigate. These include:

-   -   1. The lid and jar both may be placed on top of the counter         area, which uses double the counter space that a jar takes up         before the lid is removed. This uses up counter space which may         be a scarce resource in small or crowded kitchens.     -   2. The lid will generally be placed upside down on the counter,         exposing the underside to contamination by extraneous food         particles, dust, and other debris. This dirt can fall into the         jar when the lid is later placed back on the jar. If the lid is         instead placed right side up on the counter, a less common         method, then debris on the counter can contaminate the edge of         the lid, which may in turn lead to it falling into the jar later         and contaminating the contents of the jar.     -   3. The lid may be placed anywhere in the vicinity while the jar         is being used, making it necessary to find the lid later before         it can be put back on the jar. This can easily take several         seconds or more of valuable time as well as requiring focus and         attention during that time.     -   4. If several jars are in use simultaneously, it can be an         inconvenience to figure out which lid goes with which lid when         it is time to reattach all the lids, such as when cleaning up         after use.     -   5. Sometimes lids are placed on top of jars to mitigate the         above issues, but the lids are not screwed on and instead just         rested on top. Later, someone may pick up the jar by the lid,         causing the jar to be knocked over, or causing the jar to be         lifted up briefly before falling down and breaking and/or         spilling its contents.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an easily manufactured, inexpensive method for keeping the lid of a jar with the jar during the time that the lid has been removed from the top of the jar, thus mitigating the inconveniences just enumerated.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described. Others are indicated by the list of claims. Additional advantages will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

DESCRIPTIONS OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In order to provide a lightweight and inexpensive device for the purposes discussed above, the jar lid hook is attached to a jar 1 by some means. As examples, it could be attached to the jar 1 using adhesive 2, or by a fold 3 connecting a fold-out tab 4 with a jar label 5, or by some other means. The hook has an upward-slanting portion 6 from which the lid 7 may be suspended. As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the invention and without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

1. In combination a jar with a rim to which the lid is attached and detached, a hook or similarly shaped device acting as a hook on which the lid may be suspended, said device attached to the jar and projecting outward.
 2. The combination described in claim 1 in which said device is attached to the jar using an adhesive.
 3. The combination described in claim 1 in which said device is unfolded from the label. 